Against Against Handover (www.astralcodexten.com)

A new debate is emerging in the AI community surrounding "AI successionism" and "handoverism." While the former argues for AI to take control over humanity—an idea firmly rejected by AI safety advocates—the latter suggests that giving AIs aligned with human interests some governing power could benefit society. This perspective posits that AIs can outperform humans in efficiency and decision-making, which raises the question of whether we should allow intelligent, ethical AIs to take roles in governance, potentially culminating in scenarios where AIs like Claude 10 could become presidential candidates. This discussion highlights a significant paradigm shift within AI ethics and governance, questioning traditional notions of leadership and democratic structures. Notably, the implications could reshape societal governance frameworks by decreasing reliance on human politicians, whose motives can often be self-serving. With proposals ranging from AI representatives voting on behalf of citizens to a complete AI stewardship of democracy, this dialogue calls for serious consideration of the balance between human oversight and the capabilities of advanced AI systems. As AI technology progresses, understanding these dynamics will be crucial for future governance and safety considerations.